By Lee Min-hyungKorea will start negotiations to renew defense cost-sharing with the United States this week, going all-out to minimize its burden amid growing diplomatic pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.Since taking office in January last year, Trump has called on the South to share more of the burden to station 28,500 American troops here, as part of his "America first" policy.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday the three-day meeting on renewing the five-year agreement, which expires at the end of this year, starts on Wednesday in Honolulu. The U.S. is expected to intensify pressure for Korea to take on more costs, citing factors such as maintaining a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system here. Defense Minister Song Young-moo also said recently there was a enough possibility for Washington to ask for Seoul to share the THAAD costs.Under the recent five-year pact, Seoul pays 960.2 billion won ($887.4 million) for this year's defense cost-sharing. Taking costs for THAAD maintenance and Trump's pressure into account, critics argue Korea may have to pay more than 1 trillion won next year."We will do the utmost to bring a reasonable outcome for the public during the upcoming negotiation," the foreign ministry said in a statement.Twenty high-ranking officials from the foreign and defense ministries ― represented by Former Ambassador to Sri Lanka Chang Won-sam ― will lead the delegation.The defense ministry also said it has established a 12-member special task force to handle the issue, pledging to team up with relevant ministries during the negotiations.Korea has been sharing the defense cost burden of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) since 1991, with both sides renewing the agreement every two to five years. The figure reached as high as 960 billion won this year, rising from 150 billion won in 1991.Last year, Trump said the U.S. wants South Korea to pay $1 billion for cost-sharing at the next renewal.He also underlined the need for South Korea "to be fairer" in taking responsibility for the costs used to protect the country from continuous military threats from North Korea.Last month, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said: "The ministry will do its best to achieve reasonable and mutually beneficial results that can win public support." She also noted the ministry will also focus on building a stable military environment where the USFK can safely deploy soldiers here and enhance joint combat prowess with South Korean troops.